eBay - withdrawing item from auction

[Lyle]

I was watching a lathe on eBay. I had asked the seller a few questions and was waiting for him to reply.
Checked the listing the next day and it was withdrawn/ended???
I hadn't placed a bid as I was waiting for answers from the seller. The answer would have given me a basis for my bid amount and maximum amount.

Has left a sour taste .

It is probably within the rules but still if the listing has a few days to go, shouldn't it stay until the end then get withdrawn??
Lyle.

[NCArcher]

He probably sold it elsewhere Lyle.

[Lyle]

yes, probably sold it or maybe decided a mate/lation wanted it. But I'm just venting with sour grapes because it would have been a great deal.

[DSEL74]

yes, probably sold it or maybe decided a mate/lation wanted it. But I'm just venting with sour grapes because it would have been a great deal.

Maybe he realised this and the fact that he was unlikely to get what he thought it was worth so pulled it.

[Ilya]

Also, if seller sells item outside ebay, he/she saves, if I remember correctly, 10% on ebay fees. I understand why one would prefer to sell a couple of thousand worth of machinery not on ebay...

[Fuzzie]

I think the EBay T&C will let you cancel only one auction in any 12month period without penalty. Otherwise multiple cancels will incur final value fees just as if the item sold at the termination price.

I also think it would be more messy to leave a sale run to its end and renege on the sale after the auction conclusion. I seem to remember listings that used to say an item was also listed for sale elsewhere and could be withdrawn at any time, but I think these days people selling in that manner might be using gumtree instead.

It's still a difficult thing listing stuff for auction. I know I have stuff that I would like to auction off, but have lost out before on not attracting enough bids in the past and sold below fair value. I think the only thing to do there is to list items starting at your reserve and see how it goes from there. It doesnt give much confidence when there are a lot of views/watchers but no bids.

[Master Splinter]

Remember, too, that there are people like me who won't bid through the eBay auction system; I use a proxy bidder, put in the most that I'm happy to pay and forget about the auction till it's over. The proxy puts my bid on a few seconds before the auction closes, ensuring that I don't telegraph my interest and create a bidding war on an item (some people seem to be happy to pay more than retail for the satisfaction of winning.)

[Vernonv]

I think the EBay T&C will let you cancel only one auction in any 12month period without penalty. Otherwise multiple cancels will incur final value fees just as if the item sold at the termination price.

I very, very much doubt that is the case and certainly can't find reference to it anywhere. Having said that, they will still charge you the listing fee (if a listing fees applied when you listed the item) and may investigate if it becomes a habit. They can't and won't charge "final value" fees on something that didn't sell, but if they find you are doing something underhanded, they may cancel your account.

[fenderbelly]

I think you can only withdraw an item in the first 12/24 hours

[Vernonv]

I think you can only withdraw an item in the first 12/24 hours

Sorry, that's not correct. They say you can't end within the LAST 12 hours (or maybe it's 24 hours?) of the auction, however you can cancel bids at any time.